Page 49 of Once A Crime Lord

“Who are you?”

“I need to go.”

He didn’t release her. “Please, give me something.”

She saw the confusion and frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She never should have gotten involved with him. She’d known there was a possibility Gavin would find her, and she moved in with him anyway. He didn’t belong in her world. Her world was dark, dirty, and perilous. He had a future and the possibility of a happily ever after.

“I love my husband,” she said.

He closed his eyes as if her words physically hurt him. She felt a resounding pang in her breast. She had been trying to spare him this, but there was no getting around it.

“I can’t tell you about his business because I don’t know much about it. You need to let me go, Jonathan, for your own good.”

He stared at her. “You’ve changed.”

She tilted her chin. She wasn’t going to apologize for that.

“You killed a man today, but you’re still the girl I knew. I don’t care what you call yourself. You still feel something for me. I can see it in your eyes. You saved my life today.”

“You saved mine,” she said and felt the prick of tears.

He gripped her arms. “Are you in trouble? Do you need to get away from your husband? I can make you disappear.”

“I should have made sure Blade took care of you after I located her in Maine.”

She whirled and saw Gavin standing in the doorway. His suit was splattered with blood, but he was standing without assistance, which meant the blood wasn’t his. Her burst of happiness and relief disappeared as he raised a gun.

“Time to rectify my mistake,” Gavin said in a quiet voice that scared the crap out of her.

She stepped in front of Jonathan and spread her arms wide so he wouldn’t get a clear shot. “Gavin, don’t!”

“Get out of my way or I’ll prolong his death,” he said softly.

She set her teeth. She had been through a bloodbath today and wouldn’t allow him to create another. “Jonathan’s going to leave. I’ll never see him again.”

“You promised you wouldn’t talk to him.”

“I didn’t ask him to come!”

“Move, Lyla.”

He shifted to get a clear shot, and she went on tiptoes to cover Jonathan, “Gavin, stop!”

He holstered the gun and pulled out a knife already stained with red. He advanced with lethal intent. She knew what he was capable of. Jonathan didn’t have a chance in hell. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. This was spiraling out of control.

“He’s done nothing wrong,” she said.

“He touched what’s mine, and he’s trying to take you from me.”

She took two steps forward with a hand up. “I’m not going to leave with him. I told him I love you.”

Gavin shoved her to the side. She pivoted as he raised the knife for a killing strike.

“Gavin,no!”

Fear gave her the speed she needed. She launched herself at Jonathan, causing him to stagger back as she wrapped herself around him, shielding him with her body. She closed her eyes and waited for the blow, but nothing happened. She raised her head and looked behind her. Her skin prickled as she looked into Gavin’s eyes, which were incandescent with rage.

“Release him,” he said.

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